Word - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Running the Race

June 4, 2015 by Ellen 26 Comments

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?

Sweet Uncle Bert. I learned at his funeral that he was a World War II Purple Heart recipient. He never talked about it.

My precious Mama grew up poor, picking cotton, helping on the farm that her daddy sharecropped.

It was the end of an era, when we lost the likes of Mama and Uncle Bert. Before long, there will be no more World War II veterans with us.

The baton is being passed to my generation. I don’t feel ready to take it. I don’t have the knowledge, the wisdom, the experience that Mama or Uncle Bert had.

They had lived through wars; and they had done it with dignity and grace. No complaining. They just kept moving forward, doing what needed to be done. It was a generation who knew full well the responsibility they carried. And they were happy to carry their load, their share, their burden…for as long as it took.

Now the the baton is in my hand. I’m frozen, and can’t run with it. I don’t feel qualified to carry this baton. I don’t have the experience needed to take it and run with it. I’ve not fought world wars, or lived through depression. I have lived in the land of plenty. What am I going to do? How can I pass along the wisdom from the likes of my Mama and her generation? What can I offer to the next generation so they can run the race?

It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit!

The training I’ve had along the way has been invaluable. I’ve cast aside any excess baggage that could slow me down. I’m looking ahead to the next runner, preparing myself for the handoff, running in such a way that it will be a smooth transition.

Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

We need to run this race with a strength and dignity that speaks volumes to our teammates and the spectators. We need to look ahead to the finish line.

Do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

The baton we’re carrying – it’s ours now. We need to run the race we’ve been called to, not the race of earlier generations. But as we take the baton from them, we we need to also grab their knowledge and wisdom, and apply it to our race. Let’s add our own experiences to theirs and keep running! Don’t look back to grab the baton, just reach back. Keep your eyes facing forward.

(Scripture references from Hebrew 12:1-2 MSG, NLT, NASB)

Until next week,

Joining these lovely writers. Be sure to visit their pages, you’ll be encouraged!

Suzie Eller, Live Free Thursday

Susan at Dance with Jesus

Barbie at The Weekend Brew

Kelly at Purposeful Faith

Holly at Testimony Tuesday

Holley at Coffee for Your Heart

Jennifer at Tell His Story

Jana at Sweet to the Soul

Bonnie at Faith Barista

No Cash Allowed, Only Change

May 28, 2015 by Ellen 23 Comments

“I’m sorry ma’am, but if you’re not a signer on the account, I can’t take this deposit.”

“What?! I’m giving you money, not trying to take any out.”

“I apologize, it’s a new federal regulation. I can take personal checks or a money order, but no cash, unless you are listed on the account.”

“You’ll take a personal check, but not cash? That’s stupid! It’s only $50 and it’s CASH!”

The volume of my voice slowly increased with each exchange between me and the bank teller. Others began to stare, waiting to see if I would completely explode. Like tourists watching for Old Faithful to spew, they hovered about, glancing sideways, hoping for fireworks.

“I’m sorry…I know it’s frustrating.”

Frustrating? Yes. But not for the reasons she imagined. I was frustrated in myself, disappointed because I’d messed up again. I allowed my anger to get the best of me. I let my circumstances dictate my response. There was no Christ to be seen in my reaction. Only ugly poison pouring from my mouth.

When will I ever learn? When will I let the peace of Christ outshine my bursts of anger? When will I allow Christ in me to shine bright as the noonday sun? When will people see Jesus in me, not sparks about to burst into flames?

While I am busy condemning myself, God is extending grace and mercy. His mercies are new each day. And while Satan is trying to keep me enslaved to my old sin nature, scripture reminds me that when I was dead in my transgressions (i.e. when I was screaming at the teller), God forgave me and made me alive with Christ; and with Christ, He nailed my sins to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).

As followers of Christ, sin no longer has power over us.

“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6 (NASB).

In time, the Lord will bring forth our righteousness. He will do it. We have to make the commitment to trust Him, and follow His ways. No more giving in to heated emotions of the moment.

It’s such a small thing for Him to ask of us: devote our ways to Him. Follow His paths. Trust Him.

But look at the return on this small act of devotion: People will see Jesus in me and in you. Christ will burst forth from us.

What does that look like in my little world? Well, it looks like the end of my banking story: By the power of Christ in me, I managed to calm my anger and swallow my pride. I apologized to the young lady. I told her how sorry I was for losing my temper, and taking my frustrations out on her.

And maybe, just maybe she will remember the dramatic change in me. And she’ll wonder what it was that made the difference. Maybe she’ll want to see a similar change in her life.

That’s the Jesus I want people to see in me…the One that draws them to Him…the One that makes them want to change.

You can’t take cash? No problem, change is good!